Police say 5 adults found dead inside Phoenix home PHOENIX (AP) — Five adults were found dead inside a Phoenix home after a shooting in a suspected dispute over the family's business, police said. Police said Thursday the three men were brothers and the dead women apparently were the men's mother and a spouse of one of the brothers. Two other women and two children managed to escape the home unharmed. One of those women told officers that the shooting stemmed from a family dispute gone wrong, ...

Council OKs Van Horn as managerThe Russellville City Council approved Van Horn Construction to be the construction manager for the aquatic center during its regular meeting Thursday night. The resolution passed 5-3, with Aldermen Garland Steuber, Bill Eaton and Larry Brown voting against the measure. The council approved paying Van Horn an $18,000 fee to continue work with architect ETC of Little Rock. The company will return to the council with a cost estimate when the des...

Authorities find missing 80-year oldAt 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Johnson County Deputy Larry Moore responded to a call concerning a vehicle located on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 64 near the Piney Bay access area. Moore was unable to located the car upon arrival to the area. While continuing to search the area, Moore observed a white car pass by on Highway 64 with its emergency flashers on and the trunk open. Moore conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which had Tennessee tags. M...

Obituary: Oneita JohnstonATKINS — Oneita Johnston, 96, of Atkins passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. She was the daughter of Stuart and Ada Matthews Haney, born April 19, 1918, in the Haney Home on Highway 247 north of Atkins. She married Alpha Johnston in 1937, and they celebrated 73 years of wedded bliss. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and two sisters, Alta Haney and Alma Duvall. She is survived by her ...

Yell County to lease road equipmentDANVILLE — The Yell County Quorum Court voted to lease road equipment during its meeting Monday at the Yell County Courthouse in Danville. Justices of the Peace approved a resolution to approve the lease of certain road equipment, specifically a tractor loader backhoe from Scott Equipment Company. The 2015 backhoe, valued at $77,500, was approved to be leased at $925 per month with an annual 400-hour allowance. At the conclusion of the lease, ...

Lamar adds 3 days to school yearLAMAR — The Lamar Board of Education approved school calendar adjustments during its meeting Monday at the administration office. The board voted 5-0 to add May 28, May 29 and June 1 to the school calendar because of snow days taken earlier in the school year. The last day of school is scheduled for June 1. A $14,250 bid was accepted 5-0 from Roger Richey Inc. for the refinishing of the high school gym floor. A $10,907 bid was accepted 5-0 fro...

Crow Mountain to host open house Sunday The Crow Mountain Fire Department will host an open house from 12:30-6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the fire station, located at 1432 Crow Mountain Road. Fire Marshal Kevin Wolfe said the community is invited to visit with its firefighters and tour the fire station. “The department would like to use this time to interact with the community and meet those we serve,” Wolfe said. “It’s all about being there for the community.” Chief James Cole said the o...

News Briefs (April 17, 2015)Masonic Lodge pancake fundraiser The Pottsville Masonic Lodge will conduct its annual all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage fundraiser from 6-11 a.m. on Saturday at the lodge. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and State Highway 331. All money raised will be used to support local projects. Everyone is invited to come, enjoy visiting with friends and great food. For more information, people can call (479) 968-4573. Chickalah Fir...

Community education courses discontinuedDr. A.J. Anglin, interim vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University, has announced that the institution will discontinue offering community education courses as of the end of its Summer I term on July 2. All full-time personnel currently working in the community education program will have the opportunity to remain with Arkansas Tech and continue to serve the university in other capacities. “As the university becomes more ...

Atkins hires two new officersATKINS — The Atkins City Council was introduced to new police officers Mark McCarthy and Kris Stephens during Tuesday’s regular meeting at City Hall. Mayor Jerry Don Barrett said McCarthy started work this week, and Stephens will start work with the department next month. Both worked at the Pope County Sheriff’s Office. Former Atkins Police Officer Mike Brown left the department to work at the PCSO, police Chief Stephen Pack said. In other bus...

PCLS celebrates National Library WeekNational Library Week has presented an unlimited amount of possibilities at the Pope County Library System (PCLS) — including the opportunity to listen to Mayor Randy Horton read “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.” Horton read to more than 20 children at the Russellville Public Library during storytime on Wednesday. On Monday, Horton signed a proclamation that recognized April 12-18 as National Library Week in the city of Russellville. H...

ATU inauguration changes venueA rainy week in the Arkansas River Valley has forced Arkansas Tech University to adjust the location for the inauguration of Dr. Robin E. Bowen as its 12th president. The inauguration will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday in John E. Tucker Coliseum. A reception will follow near the coliseum trophy case. The event had been scheduled for the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center South Lawn before heavy rain early in the week and forecasts...

Obituary: Roxey SullivanAt the age of 96, Roxey was called away from her loved ones here on earth the morning of April 3, 2015, to be with her Lord. Roxey was born in Glenwood Springs, Colo., on Aug. 15, 1918, to Arthur and Nellie German. She lived and raised her family in Modesto, Calif., from 1939-73. She moved and lived in Briggsville with her beloved husband Grady from 1973-2010. She returned back to Modesto after Grady’s passing in 2010. She and Grady had a wond...

Obituary: Faye WilkinsDANVILLE — Faye Eloise Owens Wilkins, 80, of Blue Ball passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at St. Vincent Medical Center. She was born March 21, 1935, in Union Hill to the late Virgle J. and Eloise Hall Owens. She was a member of the Egypt Freewill Baptist Church. Faye retired after 25 years from Danville Public Schools, and she and her late husband Roy were poultry farmers for many years. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of ...

Obituary: Jimmy WalkerCLARKSVILLE — Jimmy “J.J.” Dean Walker, 46, of Coal Hill died April 10, 2015. He was born April 19, 1968, in Paris to Kenneth Walker and Mary Elizabeth Sisk Walker. He was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife, Misty Michelle Johnson Walker of Coal Hill; sons, Curtis Walker of Hartman and Chance Young of Coal Hill; daughters, April Walker and Elizabeth Young, both of Coal Hill; mother, Mary Elizabeth Sisk Walker of Russel...

County out nearly $9,500 for special electionNearly $9,500 was spent on the Special State Senate District 16 General Election — all of which will come from the pocket of Pope County, the Pope County Election Commission discussed during its meeting Tuesday at Election Headquarters. Final unofficial results indicated 70 votes were cast for the election with one candidate on the ballot — Greg Standridge — who won the runoff election on Feb. 10. Because candidates from only the Republican Pa...

Bond hearings (April 15, 2015)The following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear May 18 in Pope County Circuit Court. * James Godwin, 18, sexual indecency with a child and possession of material depicting sexually-explicit conduct involving a child — $5,000. On Feb. 19, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office responded to a re...

News Briefs (April 16, 2015)Williams Brothers feature band at Legion The American Legion Jamboree, which will begin at 6 p.m. today at the American Legion Hut across from the depot, will feature the Williams Brothers. Red Barn open Friday The Red Barn will open at 5:30 p.m. Friday for a singing. The program, set to begin at 7, is free and open to the public. Atkins Lions Club golf tournament The Atkins Lions Club will sponsor a golf tournament on Saturday at Galla Creek ...

Police: Jonesboro officer fatally shoots man with macheteJONESBORO (AP) — Jonesboro police say an officer shot and killed a man who authorities say attacked the officer with a machete. Patrolman First Class Heath Loggains shot Grant Finley, 31, late Tuesday after officer's were dispatched to Finley's home. Police said Finley fled into his home, then later came out, but retreated back into the home and officers tried follow when Loggains tried to push open the front door. Police say Finley then struc...

Judge urged to vacate order dismissing oil-spill lawsuitLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Plaintiffs are urging a federal judge in Little Rock to vacate his order dismissing a class-action lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, claiming the oil giant suppressed evidence in the case. The lawsuit, filed over a 2013 oil spill in a Mayflower subdivision, was dismissed last month by the judge. It had been filed on behalf of landowners whose property was physically crossed by the pipeline. The plaintiffs' attorneys contend in a ...